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eurosport looking to the next phase
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ith a quarter of a century of experience at the heart of international sport, Eurosport is a veteran of this rapidlyevolving global industry. However, as the international media company celebrates a landmark 25th anniversary in 2014, Chief Executive Officer Jean-Thierry Augustin is keen to look towards a bright future, as well as reflect upon a groundbreaking journey that has allowed Eurosport to forge relationships with IFs and sport stakeholders worldwide. “Eurosport is in robust health, drawing on 25 years of experience and expertise built through high-quality production and coverage of live sports events,” Augustin told The Daily. “For many years we have been Europe’s sleeping giant, reaching more homes than any other channel and broadcasting more live sport than our competitors. We have a sustainable business model. “We are ready for the next phase in our development and naturally intend to continue the strong partnerships and long-term relationships we have built across the sporting world. “SportAccord Convention gives us a unique opportunity to meet our friends, network with our contacts and the broader sports field, listen
‘Our distribution network is the largest in Europe and growing in Asia’
development: Jean-Thierry Augustin to what they are saying and get a sense of where their future is heading. It’s a place for us to share the Eurosport story. There is no better place to do this.” Earlier this year, Discovery Communications announced that it was accelerating an agreement to become a majority shareholder in Eurosport.
The deal has opened up further exciting opportunities for Eurosport, which broadcasts more than 5,000 hours of live programming every year via its main channels and is hoping to set a new benchmark this year by reaching eight million fans online every day via combined web and mobile platforms. “Our future is opening up right now with the arrival of our new majority shareholder, Discovery Communications,” Augustin added. “What they have seen is that we have successfully developed over the past 25 years a business that is efficient, effective and unrivalled for audience reach and depth of live sport content in Europe. “The new opportunities open to us now with Discovery’s arrival mean we are well placed to apply our live sports production expertise on a local level and to any headline events that may be
acquired for the channel on a pan-regional level. “Our distribution network is the largest in Europe and growing in Asia, and we will draw on the compelling content and expert presentation we use to explore new markets.” As a Silver Partner of SportAccord Convention, Eurosport is keen to keep its finger on the pulse of the industry, leveraging its extensive knowledge to discuss new approaches, projects and innovations with existing and future partners. “Our coverage results from detailed discussions with our rights partners to understand how sporting action can be presented in the best possible way,” Augustin said. “The IFs know their sport and the competition. We know TV and that fans want the clearest, fastest route to the heart of live action and as much access as they can get to the sports they are passionate about. “Our role is both about delivering an experience that immerses the fan in the event with compelling and engaging content across all screens, as well as promoting an event to a very wide audience. We have the experience to turn each sport into great TV and cover it on all media and devices. We work with commercial partners to innovate with technology and enhance the viewer experience.”
THERE ARE PLENTY OF PEOPLE LOOKING FORWARD TO 2016. MINAS GERAIS, IN BRAZIL, IS READY TO WELCOME YOU.
ASOIF is on the look-out for partners that will help to deliver the next phase of the ISIS (International Sports Information System) project. Over the past 18 months the ISIS database has been collecting vital information in order to create the only existing sporting database with historical results and biographies validated at source by Olympic International Federations. The project is now ready for the next stage – the development of the front-end user experience for a variety of clients. ISIS, which received public endorsement from IOC President Thomas Bach at SportAccord Convention yesterday, will provide media companies with data on more than one million individuals and all 41,000 competitions hosted by ASOIF’s 28 members since 1877. ASOIF has developed a prototype of the database with the help of
IT services company Atos, which has a stand (No.83) at SportAccord Convention this year. “The project has the full endorsement of ASOIF’s IFs and now the full endorsement of the IOC,” ASOIF’s Head of Projects, Tim Goethals, told The Daily. “It is a project that could potentially involve International Winter Sports Federations and National Olympic Committees too. The technical aspect of the database is in place, but we are now looking for partners to finalise the project.” The prototype of the database has shown that the number of international competitions involving ASOIF IFs has increased from 161 per year in 1975 to 2,191 in 2013. “The idea is that all of the data will be accessible from one place. It will be validated by the IFs and of a consistent quality,” Goethals added.
Minas Gerais has hosted national and international sporting events over the last years, as well as providing excellent training locations for athletes and teams from around Brazil and the world. In addition, the British team has chosen Minas Gerais as its training base for 2016. 16 sporting facilities in 9 cities of Minas Gerais have had the support of the Minas 2016 Program, created by the Secretariat of Tourism and Sports. Not only does it provide all the support to the delegations but it also contributes to the exchange among the different sports in 2014, 2015 e 2016.
M I N A S 2 0 1 6 . M G . G O V. B R